Ex-RI Recreation Center Director Gets Sentenced For Child Molestation

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man who worked as the former director of a Providence recreation center was sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14.

Manuel Nunez, 44, the former director of the John Rollins Recreation Center, pleaded nolo contendere to three counts of second degree child molestation.

At a hearing Tuesday, before Superior Court Justice Richard Raspallo, the court sentenced Nunez to 25 years, with nine years to serve at the ACI in Cranston and a 16-year suspended sentence with 25 years of probation. The court also issued a no contact order between the defendant and his victim. Additionally, the defendant is required to register as a sex offender, must attend sex offender counseling and is subject to community supervision requirements under state law.

"The degree of courage demonstrated by this child in coming forward and reporting the sexual assault by this defendant, someone who should have been and who held himself out as a 'trusted' adult, cannot be overstated," said Attorney General Peter Neronha. "I am deeply grateful to her, and her family, for ensuring that this defendant will no longer be in a position to harm others. While this defendant will now be behind bars for a long time, we know that this work to bring perpetrators of crimes against children to justice will continue. Over the past five years alone, we have charged over 400 cases involving sexual assaults against children. I am grateful for the continued strong work by the Providence Police Department in this case and in others as we work together to protect Rhode Island’s most vulnerable residents."

Had this case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove that in 2021, Nunez sexually assaulted a girl under 14 at the recreation center's basketball program.

In March 2021, the victim’s mother contacted the Providence Police Department to report sexual assault allegations. Nunez later admitted to detectives that he had sexually assaulted the victim.